SEA-WATER SUPPLY IN THE TROPICS 



By Warren Wisby 



University of Miami Marine Laboratory, Miami, Flo. 



Abstract. — The existing sea-water system is described for institutions in need of a 

 moderate supply of sea water. Special methods were devised to eliminate frequent 

 maintenance, save space, accommodate an extremely high ground-water level, and per- 

 mit continuous operation in spite of tropical storms. Additions and changes for a 

 contemplated enlarged facility are discussed, covering the control of temperature, 

 salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and CO2, and turbidity in the incoming water. Methods 

 are given whereby programed variations of any controllable parameter may be 

 maintained. 



When, some months ago, a new labora- 

 tory was being planned for the Institute 

 of Marine Science of the University of 

 Miami, the existing salt-water pumping 

 system was subjected to intensive scrutiny 

 and examination to determine which of its 

 features were generally deemed worth re- 

 taining and which were to be improved or 

 discarded. The experiences of our staff 

 members in various marine laboratories, 

 in this country and abroad, were drawn 

 upon. Conferences were held with ex- 

 perts from various disciplines, including 

 biologists, corrosion engineers, chemists 

 specializing in toxicity studies, and hy- 

 draulics engineers. The plans which re- 

 sulted from this search and evaluation 

 program retained many features of the 

 existing system. In the belief that a de- 

 scription of the existing system would be 

 of value to institutions with moderate sea- 

 water demands, it will be described in the 

 first portion of this paper. The remainder 

 of the paper will describe the contem- 

 plated system in detail. 



EXISTING SYSTEM 



The salt-water supply system now in 

 use in the Agassiz Building of the Insti- 



tute of Marine Science was installed when 

 the Institute's laboratory facilities were 

 moved to their present location on Vir- 

 ginia Key in 1953, and has been in con- 

 tinuous use since that time. A few rela- 

 tively minor changes have been made in 

 the system; these were due mainly to an 

 increase in the demands placed upon it by 

 a greatly expanded scientific staff. When, 

 some years later, a second salt-water lab- 

 oratory was planned, it was decided that 

 the existing pumping and distribution sys- 

 tems had proven their worth, and a dupli- 

 cate system was installed in that facility, 

 now our Collier Building. These two sim- 

 ilar systems have managed to provide the 

 entire supply of salt water for the Insti- 

 tute until the present time when, again 

 because of increasing demands, they were 

 judged inadequate and plans for a new 

 salt-water facility were started. The sim- 

 plicity of their design recommends them 

 primarily for small installations. How- 

 ever, many of their design features should, 

 and can, be incorporated into more exten- 

 sive systems. 



The Institute of Marine Science is on 

 Virginia Key on the shore of Bear Cut, 

 a narrow strait connecting a shallow part 



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